Agua Dulce Man Guilty Of Manslaughter; Jury Hangs On Murder Charge

An Agua Dulce man on trial for killing a pedestrian while driving drunk was found guilty of multiple felony charges Monday in L.A. Superior Court in Lancaster, but jurors were unable to decide on a murder charge, according to a court public information coordinator.

Dennis Keene, 64, was found guilty of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, causing injury while driving under the influence of alcohol, and driving with a blood alcohol level exceeding the legal limit causing injury.

One of Keen’s neighbors, Lori Lindlief, was killed on Aug. 12, 2011, after Keene allegedly hit her with his pickup truck while he was driving drunk. The victim and her fiance were walking their dogs on Mabana Street near the Agua Dulce Airpark around 8 p.m. when a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Keene came up behind her and struck her. She later died at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital.

Prosecutors have been trying the case for the last few weeks in front of Superior Court Judge Bernie LaForteza.

On Wednesday, the judge will decide whether to re-try Keene on the murder charge, the public information coordinator said.

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